Chapter 733: Where Does the Boundary Come From? (This Chapter

The woman in Cell Six began singing the battle song of her wife from days gone by.

Li Li Banfeng broke out in goosebumps.

"Hehe!" the woman laughed. "You've heard this tune before, haven't you?"

"How do you know I've heard it?" Li Li Banfeng did not deny it.

The woman spoke mysteriously: "I heard the sound of your goosebumps."

Li Li Banfeng blinked. "It was that loud?"

"Very loud—thump-thump! Each one popped out from your skin!"

Li Li Banfeng rubbed his arms, pressed his ear against them, and listened closely.

He heard no thumping sound.

The woman snorted: "The goosebumps are gone already—what's left to listen for?"

Li Li Banfeng felt a pang of regret: "Do they make a sound when they retract?"

The woman replied: "Yes, it's duller. Why do you keep asking about goosebumps? Aren't we talking about the song? Who sang it to you before?"

Li Li Banfeng said: "Someone close to me."

The woman grew excited: "Don't tell me yet—let me guess. Which close one?"

Hssss!

A sharp inhale echoed through the cell—the woman seemed to be sniffing.

"I've got it. It was your mother."

Li Li Banfeng was startled: "You almost got it right."

The woman was equally startled: "Then was it your father?"

Li Li Banfeng said: "Forget who it was—tell me who you are, and why you know this song."

At this, the woman's breath trembled, as if suddenly remembering something painful.

"Do you know why I sing this song, son? Because I'm your mother."

Li Li Banfeng lowered his gaze, keeping his composure: "I'll let it slide this time. Don't do it again."

The woman's trembling ceased; her voice returned to normal: "Aren't I your mother? Let me think—could I be your father?"

Li Li Banfeng grew annoyed: "Besides parents, is there no one else here? I'm leaving. Think harder."

The woman cried out: "Don't go! It's just me and her—she never speaks, and I'm bored to death. Stay and talk a while longer—you won't lose anything."

Li Li Banfeng asked: "Two people? Who's the other?"

The woman said: "First tell me—who used to sing to you? Was it Zhao Xiao?"

Hssss! Another sharp inhale came from the cell.

Li Li Banfeng was stunned—how did she know that?

"How long have you been locked up?"

The woman paused. "Years? Decades? So long—I can't remember!"

Li Li Banfeng said: "Then how do you know I know Zhao Xiao?"

"Hehehe~ You can't figure it out, can you?" the woman chuckled darkly. "I smelled her powder—cheap powder."

Li Li Banfeng thought this wasn't enough: "Many women use cheap powder. Why are you so sure it's Zhao Xiao?"

"She's different. She blends cheap powders together—after mixing, they give off a unique scent, even better than expensive ones. Many women tried to copy her, but none could."

In the Body Mirror Chamber, Wu Niang was showing the others the condition of the stairwell—her technique had improved greatly, and her voice carried clearly.

Xiang Xiang Hongying gripped Zhao Xiao's hand: "Xiao, how do you blend your powder? I want to learn too—I bought so much cheap powder, but I can't get it right, and people laugh at me."

Zhao Xiao paid no attention to Xiang Hongying—she was deeply worried. The voice in the cell was peculiar, as if masked by some technique; she still couldn't identify who it was.

Jiu'er silently combed Xiang Hongying's hair from behind.

Did Honglian sat on the table, outwardly calm, inwardly anxious.

The woman in Cell Six continued: "You carry her powder scent. She's not your mother—then is she your grandmother?"

Li Li Banfeng said: "Can't you think differently?"

"This line of thought isn't easy to change. Don't rush—I'll think again. There's another scent on you—machine oil…"

Li Li Banfeng nodded: "I just worked with machine oil."

"And smoke."

"I smoke."

"And a hint of moisture."

This one was harder to answer. Li Li Banfeng asked: "Are you sure this scent is on me?"

"On you?" The woman hesitated, inhaling sharply. "No—it's not you. It's behind you. You're followed by a train!"

Li Li Banfeng froze.

Could she smell that?

What level of cultivation did this woman have?

The woman analyzed the scents, muttering to herself: "This train scent feels familiar—is it an old train?"

No, the old train is stuck inside this building—it can't leave.

But that's not quite right—the old train still has half outside. Could that half have returned?

No, the old train's smoke is stronger. This is a small train!

The small train has always trailed the old one—so are you the old train?

No, the old train doesn't smell like you. You carry the scent of youth. Who are you? Who gave you the small train?"

Li Li Banfeng lowered his hat brim: "Tell me your name first. Then we'll talk about the train."

The woman heard more sounds: "You really like wearing a hat, don't you? Don't pull the brim too low—leave some of your face visible. A young man's face can't be unattractive."

Li Li Banfeng asked: "Can you see me?"

"No, but I hear you—and I smell you. Your scent is overwhelming."

"What scent?"

"The train's scent. How long has the small train followed you? More than a year? More than two? Three years, maybe?"

Li Li Banfeng stepped back two paces.

Could she smell time itself?

The woman hurried to stop him: "Don't leave! Talk more! Zhao Xiao's scent is strong too—how long have you been with her? Also three years?"

Li Li Banfeng activated all his senses: Insightful Sound, Golden Eyesight, and the Art of a Hundred Scents.

He scanned the surroundings, trying to see how the woman observed him.

She must be able to see me—otherwise she couldn't be this precise.

No—even if she could see me, she couldn't be this precise!

How did she know it was three years? How did she know I'd known my wife for three years?

The woman spoke again: "Strange—you call her 'mother.' Do you mean Zhao Xiao—or someone else?"

Mother?

Where did she hear that?

Li Li Banfeng suddenly remembered: the first time he visited Miao Sheng Phonograph Shop, Ling Ling Miaosheng had heard his inner thoughts.

Is this the power of a top-tier Kuixiu?

Back then, Li Li Banfeng's cultivation was far below Ling Ling Miaosheng's—her hearing his thoughts wasn't surprising.

Now his cultivation had reached Cloud Level Eight—why could this woman still hear him?

Fortunately, she didn't hear everything—only fragments.

The woman asked: "Is Zhao Xiao really not your mother?"

"No!" Li Li Banfeng emptied his mind completely.

"Then are you her mother?"

"No."

The woman grew angry: "Play fair. If I guess right, you admit it—otherwise it's no fun."

Li Li Banfeng said: "I'm not cheating. You didn't guess right."

The woman clicked her teeth—seemingly biting her nails: "Then I'll guess again. Why did 'mother' come up between you two?"

The woman clicked her teeth, as if biting her fingernails: "Let me guess again—why did a mother suddenly appear between you two?"

"Why should I tell you? You guess too! Guess your own, don't interrupt me." The woman fell silent for a long while, then suddenly shouted: "I've got it! She calls you 'wife'—you're her spouse, aren't you!"

In Wu Fang of the Body Mirror Chamber, a comb fell to the floor.

Xiang Hongying turned around: "Jiu'er, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," Jiu'er picked up the comb and resumed combing Xiang Hongying's hair.

The wife murmured softly: "I think I know who she is."

Outside the Body Mirror Chamber, Li Li Banfeng nodded repeatedly: "I know who you are!"

Among all the people Li Li Banfeng knew, only one person could weave logic with such precision.

The woman tensed: "You know who I am? Don't trick me! I'm smart—you can't fool me!"

Li Li Banfeng asked: "Do you know Sun Sun Tiecheng?"

"Ah?" The woman gasped.

"Ah?" the woman cried out in surprise.

Li Li Banfeng said: "Cheating is pointless. Tell the truth—do you know him or not?"

The woman forced calm: "I know him. So what? I'm close to him—he's my sworn brother!"

Li Li Banfeng smiled: "Did he agree to be your brother?"

"He refused!" At this, the woman grew angry. "I truly wanted to take him as my brother, but he put on airs, lectured me with a whole pile of Daoli,

I couldn't stand listening to any of it. No matter what he said, I just grabbed him on the spot, we swore brotherhood, the deed was done—he's my brother now!"

Li Li Banfeng sneered: "I heard from others you never actually swore brotherhood."

The woman panicked: "Who's spreading such lies? Don't listen to them—we did swear brotherhood!

It's just that Sun Sun Tiecheng is a bit… he won't let me call him brother in front of others,

What's so embarrassing about it? He swore brotherhood with me, yet he took on two thousand younger sisters—I've got two sisters, beautiful as can be, with figures and faces to match, and they look just like me,

Have you ever seen my sisters?"

Li Li Banfeng nodded: "I have."

The woman was stunned again: "Which sister did you see?"

Li Li Banfeng answered honestly: "I saw one who copied you exactly."

"Ayi————" The woman's voice trembled again. "That's my sister, my own flesh and blood, the very piece of me that broke off."

Li Li Banfeng thought a moment: "That must be it."

"Is Ayi well?" Her voice shook violently—this time, she was truly heartbroken.

"She's fine."

"You're lying. If she were truly well, why would she give you her jade pendant? Has she passed from this world?" The woman burst into tears.

"She's alive. You can hear thoughts—you know I'm not lying. She just married a new bride recently, and she's living happily."

"Married again?" The woman's voice brightened with joy. "Ayi's always been ambitious, unlike me—I've only ever married one wife, and she's a coward who couldn't even swear brotherhood with me. Tell me, is she beautiful?"

"She's beautiful. Exceptionally so."

This was true—Ayi was a rare beauty.

The woman fell silent for a long while, then her voice changed—no longer weeping, now soft with tenderness: "Then tell me—am I beautiful, or is she?"

How could he answer that?

Li Li Banfeng said: "I haven't seen you yet."

"Just say who's more beautiful!" The woman's voice carried a hint of murder.

Li Li Banfeng straightened his chest: "Of course you're more beautiful!"

The woman laughed: "You really are a straightforward man."

Li Li Banfeng nodded: "I was born this way—I can't change it."

"If you say he's more beautiful than me, I'll kill you, then kill that slut Ayi too,

and then—" Her voice broke into sobs.

"I can't kill Ayi. If she dies, I won't live either—I'll die with her. She's the only one left alive in the family. I miss her so much—I want to see her."

Li Li Banfeng shook his head: "I can't summon her right now. When I meet her later, I'll talk to her about it."

The woman sniffled twice: "I have another sister—her name is Ayu. Do you know her?"

"I know her," Li Li Banfeng nodded. "Do you want to meet her?"

"Yes."

Patah!

Inside the portable dwelling, Jiu's hairpin fell again.

This time, she didn't pick it up—she bolted, running room after room.

Xiang Xiang Hongying chased after her: "Jiu, don't run! If you don't want to leave, just tell me—no one will harm you!"

The woman looked at Xiang Xiang Hongying's retreating back: "This woman's temperament hasn't changed at all."

Li Li Banfeng said to the woman: "I can ask her if she wants to meet you."

"Don't ask her. Don't tell Ayi either," the woman sighed. "They won't want to see me. It's my fault—I betrayed them."

Li Li Banfeng followed up: "What happened between you all? Why are you trapped in Waizhou?"

"Waizhou?" The woman laughed. "Waizhou can't trap me. It's her and him who trapped me."

"Who are 'him' and 'her'?" Li Li Banfeng didn't understand.

The woman's tone turned mysterious: "Come closer. I'll whisper it to you."

Inside the portable dwelling, Did Honglian hissed, as if grinding her teeth.

Crazy old hag, stop this nonsense!

As Li Li Banfeng stepped forward, Did Honglian opened her mouth to speak—when suddenly the woman inside the chamber shouted: "Stop!"

Li Li Banfeng pulled back his half-stepped foot: "Didn't you just tell me to come closer?"

"Tsk tsk!" The woman clicked her tongue, dripping with contempt. "Your footsteps were steady and strong—you're a Lü Xiu.

If you're a Lü Xiu, you should know how to sense fortune and avoid doom. Right before your eyes is a clear boundary—can't you feel the danger?"

Li Li Banfeng paused. He truly hadn't sensed any danger.

Was there even a boundary?

Li Li Banfeng pulled a sheet of white paper from his pocket and tossed it toward the chamber's door.

The paper vanished instantly—not even a speck of dust remained.

Such a powerful boundary!

At his current cultivation level, he was untouchable by ordinary people—but Li Li Banfeng knew well: among Lü Xiu, his techniques were mostly worthless.

But sensing fortune and avoiding doom—he could do that. That was what the driver taught him.

And now it failed?

The woman sighed: "Perhaps it's not your fault. This boundary's level is too high. Not sensing it is understandable."

Boundaries have levels?

Li Li Banfeng pulled out the device to open boundaries and tugged the wooden lever.

The woman laughed: "You used that thing? It won't work."

For a powerful boundary, the remote truly was useless.

Li Li Banfeng asked: "What kind of device can break this boundary?"

"Not by device—by will."

Li Li Banfeng said: "Willpower is hard. I'm not a Nian Xiu."

The woman patiently guided him: "You don't need to be a Nian Xiu. Just remember the mantra. Calm your mind,

clear all distractions, and repeat after me, word by word."

"The mantra is: Ayu is the most beautiful woman in the world."

Li Li Banfeng looked up: "Your name is Ayu?"

"Focus on the incantation! Don't overthink!"

Li Li Banfeng recited the mantra earnestly. Ayu seemed satisfied: "Take one step forward."

He didn't move immediately—he tested again with the white paper. It landed on the ground—the boundary had vanished.

Li Li Banfeng stared: "You set up this boundary?"

Ayu said: "Not me. Her."

"Who is 'her'?"

From inside the chamber came the sound of skin rubbing against skin—as if Ayu were caressing someone: "She's with me. I talk to her every day. She never answers, but she still does things."

"What kind of things can she do?"

Ayu said: "Just now, she lifted the boundary at the door. All those mantras? I was just joking with you. Wait a moment—I've got another task. I need to open a temporary portal on the east side."

"What portal?" Li Li Banfeng was utterly confused.

"A boundary portal!" Ayu laughed. "Lots of people in Like Puluozhou study boundaries, right? They waste their time—just like that mantra I taught you. Useless.

If she can't hear it, no one can hear it. No one can open it unless she allows it. Hehehe!"

Li Li Banfeng was speechless.

He pondered the process of bypassing boundaries.

The equipment used by the Guard Office to bypass boundaries operated on principles completely different from his assumptions—and from everyone else's!

Their basic mechanism wasn't to remove or extinguish boundaries—it was communication.

Is this how Waizhou controls boundaries?

Li Li Banfeng asked: "Did Waizhou trap you here to control boundaries?"

"I already said—Waizhou can't trap me. It's her who traps me. She's here, so I can't go anywhere."

Li Li Banfeng didn't know who she was, but he pressed on: "Who trapped her?"

"Old Train! He built a whole nest of traps in this chamber, so she can't leave either."

Li Li Banfeng continued: "And who trapped Old Train?"

"She trapped Old Train. She made him a boundary—uniquely special.

Other boundaries can trap others, but not Old Train. That one can't trap others—but it traps Old Train."

"If it can trap Old Train, she must be an extraordinary figure."

"Extraordinary indeed! Hehehe!" Ayu laughed, her tone turning sinister. "You're playing along, aren't you? Sun Sun Tiecheng is my wife. Do you think I don't understand Wu Xiu techniques?"

Being exposed didn't matter—Li Li Banfeng kept playing along: "If I freed you now, could you remove all the boundaries in Like Puluozhou?"

"Can! Try it!"

Li Li Banfeng pulled out the glove: "Let's give it a try."

The glove trembled: "Master, be careful."

"No problem, let's try!"

"Master, if this truly opens, who knows what might come out!"

"Relax, brother—just give it a shot."

The glove fumbled at the door for a long while, its five fingers shaking, unable to even locate the locking mechanism.

A Yu snorted, looking down on the glove: "Panicked and trembling—how can you possibly accomplish anything? It's no wonder you can't open it; Old Train's craftsmanship isn't something a mere clamp-hand can unlock. Don't waste your effort."

Li Li Banfeng quickly retracted the glove: "Sister, I truly want to save you."

"Why save me? Why call me sister?"

"I swore brotherhood with A Yi Bai Zhan— we're sworn siblings!"

A Yu sighed: "You're a man of loyalty. Do you have any food? Those things the Dark Star Bureau gave me are truly inedible."

Li Li Banfeng spilled blood to draw a boundary, then used the Connected Chamber Technique to produce two cans of food.

He brought the cans to the door, where a hand extended from the iron gate—pale, slender, seemingly real yet illusory, as if grown from the door itself, or perhaps a superimposed play of light and shadow.

Li Li Banfeng placed the cans in the hand; they immediately turned insubstantial and dissolved into the door.

"Though not fresh, the flavor of Pulu Province still tastes so sweet," A Yu breathed deeply, lost in the aroma.

After a short while, A Yu finished the cans: "Will you come visit me again?"

"Yes. As long as I can find you, I'll come often. Are we friends now?"

"What kind of talk is that?" A Yu grew angry. "Two cans of food to buy my friendship? I'm a woman of principle!"

Li Li Banfeng used the Connected Chamber Technique to produce a crate of cans: "Is this enough?"

A Yu took the cans inside: "I appreciate your kindness."

Li Li Banfeng nodded: "You've truly accepted my cans."

A Yu added: "Next time you come, don't always bring cans—bring something else delicious."

"Easy enough. But I have another favor to ask."

"You want to create a boundary? Which one?"

A Yu always guessed Li Li Banfeng's thoughts—but this time, she was wrong.

"I want you to create a boundary for me."

"Create a boundary? Where?"

Li Li Banfeng pulled out a map of the Suihuang Plain and marked a spot on it.

"The Tufang Kingdom opened an entrance here—there's no boundary blocking it, and it will become a major threat," Li Li Banfeng handed the map to the door.

A Yu took the map; a laugh came from within: "So what if it's a threat?"

"If Tufang invades Pulu Province through this entrance, Pulu Province is finished."

"Let it be finished. Pulu Province is full of beasts—I wish they'd all die sooner!"

Li Li Banfeng roughly understood A Yu's meaning: "The beasts who destroyed Fool's City mostly aren't from Pulu Province. This boundary is meant to stop them."

"Ah!"

Another sigh came from the monitor: "Whether they're stopped or not, I don't much care—but there's one thing I do care about: is my little sister in the Little Train?"

"Yes," Li Li Banfeng answered honestly.

A Yu said: "I fear she's been mistreated. You must treat her well from now on."

Li Li Banfeng nodded: "She's treated me very well."

"As for the boundary, I'll discuss it with her gradually. Whether she agrees isn't up to me—but you must treat Xiao Yu well. I won't let you down."

1

Click!

A bar fell from outside the iron door, its length and thickness matching a finger.

Li Li Banfeng picked it up: "What's this mean? Do you think I'm greedy?"

"This gold bar isn't for spending. When you need to contact me, squeeze this bar—you'll be able to speak to me."

"You should go now. Some devices in the outer provinces are activating—I can barely hold them back."

The projector behind Li Li Banfeng shook uncontrollably; he had been suppressing the Monitor's equipment, and now he could barely hold it back either.

Li Li Banfeng still remembered the aftermath of He He Jiaqing's invasion of the Dark Star Bureau.

He was about to exit the stairwell when A Yu said: "Take that paper with you. Wipe away the blood. Some things you shouldn't leave behind—and some things I can't handle myself."

The glove cleaned everything for Li Li Banfeng, then followed him as he closed the iron door.

Back in the stairwell, Li Li Banfeng still had many questions. He pushed open the door, hoping to see what had changed.

But he saw Chen Chen Zhangrui inside the elevator.

"Director Li, you're back! I have urgent news to report!"

"Every time you see me, it's urgent—can't you ever have something unimportant to say?"

They went to the office. Chen Chen Zhangrui pulled out a file: "Tufang Kingdom sent a letter, saying they wish to send envoys to Da Huan State. The others are undecided—whether to accept them or not."

Li Li Banfeng took the document, flipped through it briefly, but found it hard to concentrate.

The information in the stairwell was overwhelming; unrelated matters seemed strangely connected.

PS: What is Tufang Kingdom's purpose in sending envoys now?